How to Travel Light…and Save Money

I HAAAATE packing.

It’s such a pain in the ass. Not that you’d think so if you’ve ever read one of those cheery 10 Tips For Stress-Free Packing type articles, where all you have to do is opt for a capsule wardrobe – say, blue and white with an accent of tangerine – and the next thing you know you’re lying on a lounger, sipping a Pina Colada, turning a gorgeous shade of pink.

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but real life is not like…not mine anyway.

To start with, I don’t have much tangerine in my wardrobe, and then there’s The Shoe Issue. I want to look like I’m wearing Jimmy Choos, and feel like I am wearing Hotters. Alas, the impossible dream. I tend to compromise with a nice, sensible, mid-heel wedge.

Choo or Hoot?

Added to that my life-long mission to NEVER, EVER, EVER take hold luggage, unless it’s free or I am going to the Maldives, for at least a fortnight – so until either of those miracles transpire, I refuse, damn it, to pay £50 to take a suitcase on a flight that cost me £45.

D(eparture) Day minus 3- Preparation

With the determination of a young Madonna (the Get into the Groove one, not the Virgin one) dig out your carry on suitcase and all the clothes that you want to fit into it, frown, pour yourself a gin and tonic and catch up on Big Little Lies.

Hmmm…time for a gin n tonic

D-Day minus 2 – Planning

It’s time to put on a washing and go shopping for travel-sized toiletries, that won’t be confiscated by over-zealous airport security operatives.

D-Day minus 1 – Elimination and Packing

Now the hard bit. Discard anything too small or horrible or anything that’s not blue, white or tangerine, with the aim of ending up with a pile that should just about fit in your case.

Pour another gin and tonic, and move on to the actual packing, using my RSS METHOD

R – ROLL

Lay four similar sized items on top of each other and roll like billy-o

Once you are through security, buy something.

…anything – a packet of polo mints will do – and ask for the largest plastic bag that WH Smith will give you for 5p, then stuff it full of the things that are bulging out of your handbag

So there you have it….the satisfaction of knowing that you, rather than Ryanair, are £50 better off. Now, who doesn’t get a wee glow of please at that thought?

Word of Warning – I always forget something when I travel. Never my passport (I go through too many Paranoid Passport Checks for that) but it has been known for me to arrive for a long weekend without any pants. Hey ho, there’s always a Zara nearby.

Heaven forbid you get a strip search in your airport outfit! I do get it – so annoying to be told to pay extra for things which are actually essential. And, whoever realised that rolling was a) easier and b) more efficient that folding deserves a nobel prize!

I’m all about wearing extra clothes that won’t fit in your bag. Do airlines in the U.K. really charge 50 GBP to check a bag? I don’t blame you for not wanting too! It’s about 18 GBP in the States. (yes, I couldn’t figure out how to get the pound sign on an American keyboard)

This had me laughing so hard! Really a delight to take a break and just laugh! I actually almost never get the chance to fly and I have a trip coming next fall where I will actually be taking an airplane! I know it sounds silly to those who travel a lot but its really exciting to me! So I will take all your tips to heart! Thank you! This was really a lot of fun!

Genius! And I love it that I am Just Like You. My sister says that when she’s packing for a trip, she imagines me watching over her shoulder and saying “you don’t need that”, “you can buy that when you get there”, etc., etc. The other two things I would add to your list — 1. take things you plan to leave where you’re going and 2. Buy a 3-pack of men’s undershirts. #1 is like taking that bathing suit that still looks good but you’re done with it on your beach vaca. When you’re packing to go home, just leave it. #2 is when you wear one of the tees on the plane, then use it for a nightshirt when you get there. Repeat with other two. At the end of the vaca, just leave them. They never look that good after they’re washed anyway.

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Welcome

A big HELLO and WELCOME to my blog.
I'm Jill and apparently a woman of a 'certain age'.
Well quite frankly, sod that!
Here you'll find a wry guide to (Mid)Life – from never quite being bikini-body ready to looking after a headstrong Border Terrier for a week.
Rest assured, there will be no fashion tips, makeup demonstrations or overt pouting, but hopefully the odd chuckle and the occasional outburst of filthy laughter.
Jill x

jill@midlifesmarts.com

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